Ancestral Findings (Genealogy Gold Podcast)

As October approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate engaging in seasonal activities, from pumpkin carving to family baking. But have you ever considered that this could be the perfect time to dig deeper into your family history as well? This month offers you a golden opportunity to enrich your understanding of your roots through various genealogy projects. Whether you're keen on outdoor exploration, cozying up in a library, or getting creative with family recipes and photos, we've got six must-do genealogy projects that are enriching and seasonally appropriate. So, let's start making this October a month of memorable family discoveries! Podcast notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/6-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-october/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips      

If you've been researching family history for any length of time, you've probably heard someone say, “Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can't go any further.” This idea is one of the most persistent myths in genealogy. Many people stop at the ancestor who stepped off the ship, resigned to the belief that records from “the old country” are too hard to find, inaccessible, or simply don't exist. At first glance, the myth makes sense. Immigration records can be patchy. Language barriers are intimidating. Foreign archives may seem distant and mysterious. For years, genealogists accepted the idea that you could trace your family back to the arrival in America, Canada, or Australia, and no further. But here's the truth: genealogy doesn't end at the ocean. The ocean is not a wall — it's a bridge. With patience, persistence, and the right tools, you can cross it. Today, countless records from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America are available in digital form. Archives are more accessible than ever. And local experts around the world are helping researchers trace their families across borders... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-ends-at-the-ocean/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

In recent years, DNA testing has become one of the hottest tools in genealogy. It promises quick answers to old questions, colorful charts that tell you your ethnic breakdown, and even lists of genetic cousins you never knew you had. For many researchers, DNA has been a game-changer. It has reunited families, broken through long-standing mysteries, and added a powerful new dimension to traditional research. But with all that excitement comes a myth: the belief that DNA testing will solve every brick wall. Many people assume that if you just spit in a tube, all of your genealogical puzzles will untangle themselves. That simply isn't true. DNA is powerful, but it is not magic. It has limits, and those limits matter. In this essay, we'll look at why this myth exists, where DNA really shines, where it struggles, and how you can use it wisely as one tool in a larger toolkit... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/dna-testing-genealogy-brick-wall/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Many of us grow up hearing stories about our family's background. Maybe your grandmother insisted her side of the family was “pure Irish.” Or perhaps your grandfather proudly declared that his ancestors were “completely German, no mixture at all.” In some households, there is even the belief that one particular ancestor was “full-blooded Cherokee,” “100 percent Scottish,” or “pure Italian.” These stories are often told with pride. They give families a sense of identity and belonging. But when we hold them up to the light of history and genealogy, a different picture emerges. The idea that an ancestor was “100 percent” one ethnicity is rarely true, and it is almost never as simple as the stories make it sound. The myth of pure ethnicity is powerful because it speaks to human longing. People like neat boxes and clear categories. We want to know where we come from. We want to say, with confidence, “My ancestors were entirely Irish,” or “We have nothing but German blood.” The problem is, history is messy, borders change, and people have always moved, married, and mixed. This time, we are going to explore why the myth of pure ethnicity exists, where it came from, how DNA testing complicates it, and what the records really show. By the end, you'll see that your ancestors, like everyone else's, were part of a long story of blending, migration, and mixing. And that makes your family history far more interesting than the myth of “100 percent” purity. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pure-ethnicity-ancestor-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

One of the most tempting shortcuts in genealogy is the idea of the “master family tree.” A single, giant, authoritative tree where everyone is already linked, all the names and dates are correct, and all you have to do is plug your family into the right spot. You'll hear this myth from new researchers, see it implied in online ads, and sometimes even find it in casual conversations: “Isn't there one big tree somewhere that already has all of this figured out?” It's a nice idea. Imagine logging in, clicking a few buttons, and instantly tracing your family back ten generations. But here's the truth: a flawless, universal master tree does not exist, and probably never will. That doesn't mean there aren't shared trees online. It just means they are often riddled with errors, duplications, and contradictions. Today, we'll dig into where the myth came from, how shared trees can be both helpful and dangerous, and what you should do instead to build a reliable family history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/master-family-tree-genealogy-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The internet has changed genealogy forever. A few clicks can uncover census records, passenger lists, or even digitized newspapers that once took months of travel and library time to access. Companies like Ancestry, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage have built enormous databases. Google can even surface obscure family references. With so much at our fingertips, it's easy to believe the myth: “All of genealogy is online now.” But here's the truth: while the internet is an incredible tool, the majority of genealogical records are still not online. Many live in courthouse basements, small-town libraries, church archives, or dusty boxes in county offices. Some will never be digitized. If you rely only on online databases, you'll miss out on huge parts of your family story. Let's explore why this myth is so common, what's really available online, and how to push your research further by going offline... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/genealogy-records-online-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

For genealogists, the census is like a treasure chest. Those big sheets of names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces are often the first stop when we start tracing a family tree. They feel official, stamped with the authority of the government, and that makes them seem ironclad. But here's the myth we need to bust: the census is not always correct. Yes, census records are invaluable. They offer details you won't find anywhere else. But they are also full of quirks, errors, contradictions, and missing information. If you take every line at face value, you could easily chase the wrong ancestor or miss the right one altogether. The good news? Once you understand why the census is imperfect—and how to work with those imperfections—you'll unlock its real power as a genealogical tool. Let's dive deep into this myth, explore why mistakes happened, and discover how to read between the lines. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/census-record-accuracy-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Have you ever heard a family story that sounds just a little too good to be true? Maybe it's the tale of a “Cherokee princess” somewhere in your tree. Or maybe a great-aunt swore that your family is connected to European royalty. These are two of the most popular legends in genealogy, and they've been told so many times that they start to feel like fact. Here's the truth: Native tribes didn't have “princesses,” and most family lines don't secretly lead back to kings and queens. Still, these stories stick around because they're exciting, a little glamorous, and they give us a sense of pride. That doesn't mean your family history isn't fascinating—it just means the real story might be very different than the legend. And honestly, that's where the fun begins. In this article, we'll look at where these myths came from, why they've lasted so long, and how you can check the facts for yourself... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/cherokee-princess-royal-ancestor-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Family stories have a way of becoming family legends, and one of the most common you'll hear in genealogical circles is this: “Our ancestor came through Ellis Island, and the clerks changed the family name because they couldn't spell it.” It's dramatic, almost cinematic. Imagine the scene—ships crowding New York Harbor, weary travelers clutching suitcases, and an impatient official scribbling down a “new” surname that forever altered the family's story. But here's the reality: Ellis Island clerks did not change names. The truth is both less theatrical and more interesting, because it says something important about how myths form, how families adapt, and where the real records are hiding... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/ellis-island-name-change-myth/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This postcard shows Nela Park in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the General Electric Company's experimental headquarters. More than just an industrial site, Nela Park became one of the most famous research campuses in the United States. It represented innovation, wartime contributions, and the lives of thousands of Cleveland-area families. Mailed in 1944, the card also carries a personal note that connects the grand story of science and industry to the smaller, everyday rhythms of life... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/nela-park-cleveland-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This vintage postcard captures a sweeping view of Bridgeport, Ohio, and Wheeling Island in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Ohio River bends through the middle of the scene, crossed by several bridges that carried workers, families, and goods from one side of the river to the other. Postcards like this were small treasures of the early 20th century. They preserved local landmarks, and today they serve as important historical records for genealogists and historians alike... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wheeling-west-virginia-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Cincinnati has always been a city that valued its public spaces, and one of its most fascinating historic gathering places was Chester Park. While the postcard image gives us only a glimpse of a statue in a pavilion with the clubhouse in the background, the story of Chester Park goes much deeper. For decades, it was one of Cincinnati's favorite spots for leisure, recreation, and community life. To understand its history is to open a window into how people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries lived, worked, and played. Chester Park was established in the 1870s, during a period of explosive growth in Cincinnati. The city had become a hub of industry, trade, and immigration. As families flocked to Cincinnati for work, city leaders and entrepreneurs realized the importance of creating spaces where people could escape from crowded neighborhoods and the smoke of the factories. Parks were not only beautiful, but they also reflected civic pride and offered healthier surroundings for the public. Chester Park was designed with this in mind. It wasn't just a simple green lawn—it was a planned space filled with gardens, statues, fountains, and tree-lined walkways. It was meant to be a place where families could stroll together, young couples could walk arm in arm, and civic organizations could hold meetings or events in elegant surroundings. The grand clubhouse, seen in this postcard, became a centerpiece for gatherings, dances, and social events... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/chester-park-cincinnati-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every city has a spot that feels like its true center, the place where people gather and memories are made. For Cincinnati, that place has always been Fountain Square. It's where families have met up for generations, where kids toss coins into the water, and where people pause for a moment to take in the rhythm of the city. This old postcard brings that feeling back, showing the Tyler Davidson Fountain—better known as the Genius of Water—standing tall in the middle of downtown... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/fountain-square-cincinnati-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Chimney Rock is one of those places that's impossible to forget once you've seen it. Rising more than 200 feet into the air, that massive granite column looks like it's reaching up to hold the sky. With an American flag at the top, it feels like a landmark that was always meant to be there—solid, steadfast, and full of meaning. Nature shaped it, but for us, it's been a source of inspiration, a family destination, and even a Hollywood filming location. The postcard I've got here captures Chimney Rock sometime around the middle of the last century. On the front, you see it rising proudly above the trees, flag waving in the mountain breeze. What makes the colors pop is that old linen-style printing that was popular in those days. Instead of a flat photograph, you get something almost painterly, with glowing colors that make the scene come alive. Flip it over, and the back is just as interesting—it calls the formation the “Mighty Chimney” and promises breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory Nut Gorge, Lake Lure, and the Piedmont Plain. Even if you'd never set foot in North Carolina, just reading that little blurb would have stirred your imagination... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/chimney-rock-history-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

If you've followed this series from the beginning, you already know this wasn't really about war. It was about what came after. The quiet years. The long drives to work. The nights spent filling out pension forms by lamplight. The new marriages, new names, new babies, and sometimes, the distance — emotional or physical — that never fully closed. I've spent years digging through military records, just like you. But I've come to realize that a veteran's service file is only half the story. It might tell you where someone was stationed or what battles they were in, but it doesn't tell you who they became when they came home. And that's the part their descendants — you and me — need to know to truly understand our family. We call them veterans, but they were also sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, neighbors, laborers, wanderers, storytellers, and in some cases… ghosts. Not in the supernatural sense, but in that soft way a person fades out of memory when no one speaks their name anymore. This series was for them... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veteran-second-lives-genealogy-conclusion/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

“Many thanks, Will. You have rekindled my 40-year quest to find my family origins. Your weekly letters are greatly appreciated.” – Bryan When Bryan wrote those words to me, they carried more than gratitude. They spoke of a lifetime spent searching, hoping, sometimes pausing, and then returning again. A forty-year quest is no small thing. It's the better part of a life, and it reminds me of why we keep at this work. Family history isn't only about names and dates; it's about our connection to those who lived before us, and it's about the journey we ourselves take while searching for them. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/rekindling-forty-year-family-history-quest/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some postcards capture landscapes or landmarks; others capture a moment of pride. This one from Morgantown, West Virginia, does both. On the front, a yellow Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) car glides along its elevated guideway, the Appalachian hills forming a textured backdrop. On the back, a handwritten date—October 3, 1994—sits alongside the publisher's mark from Paige Creations and a credit to photographer Janet Paige Bonsall. For me, those small touches are what make postcards feel like secret storytellers. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/morgantown-prt-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to turn, and children have returned to their classrooms. It's September, and what better time to reconnect with your family history? Genealogy isn't just a summer vacation activity; each season offers its own unique opportunities to explore your past and build your family tree. As you swap out your summer decor for autumnal wreaths and pumpkins, consider diving into these ten genealogy projects tailored for September. Each one offers the chance to learn something new about your ancestors and make meaningful progress in your research... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/10-must-do-genealogy-projects-for-september/  Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

You find them in a draft card, a pension file, or a service roster—and then nothing. No census record. No marriage. No obituary. No trace. Every family historian has run into a veteran ancestor who seems to disappear after the war. These are the quiet mysteries of the family tree. They served their country, came home (if at all), and then vanished. And while they may not have left behind a full paper trail, the clues are often still there… just scattered in places we don't always think to look. This is about those veterans—the ones lost to history—and how to find out what may have happened to them after the uniforms were packed away. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veterans-who-disappeared-after-war/  Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Labor Day arrives each September, signaling the close of summer and the approach of autumn. Many people see it as a three-day weekend for rest, cookouts, or back-to-school shopping. Yet beneath the sales and celebrations lies a deeper meaning—one that connects directly to the lives of our ancestors. It is a holiday born of struggle, built on sacrifice, and sustained by the ongoing dignity of work. Last year, I looked back at the history of how Labor Day began and why it was created. This year, I want to look at it in a more personal way—through the eyes of our ancestors, through the forgotten jobs they once held, through the local parades and traditions they passed down, through the transformation of the holiday itself, through family stories of work, and through the immigrant experience that shaped the American workforce. Taken together, these perspectives show us why Labor Day is more than just a long weekend. It is a remembrance of the labor that shaped our families, our communities, and our nation... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/labor-day-work-family-immigration/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some families have stories that begin with war but continue through decades of work that followed. A man who served in a supply battalion later owned a hardware store. A woman who drove an ambulance in Europe spent her post-war years as a nurse. A quiet grandfather who never spoke about the war was known around town as the best electrician anyone had ever seen. These are more than coincidences. They're professional paths shaped directly by military service — by what veterans learned, endured, and adapted. This part of the Second Lives series explores how veterans took what they knew in uniform and made it into a trade, a business, or a second life they never expected... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/veteran-careers-after-military-service/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

War has a way of pausing life. Plans are put on hold. Relationships are delayed. Young people grow older quickly. And when the fighting ends, the urge to settle down often comes fast — sometimes with someone they wrote to during the war, met while deployed, or reunited with after years apart. That's why so many families — maybe even yours — began with a marriage that happened after the war. For family historians, these post-war marriages can unlock stories that explain late-in-life first children, sudden name changes, cross-country moves, or entire branches of the family tree that appear unexpectedly. These unions were often the beginning of second lives — built in peacetime, but forged in the shadow of war... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/marriage-after-military-service/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

The guns fell silent on November 11, 1918. But for millions of American “Doughboys” — the nickname given to U.S. infantrymen in World War I — the story didn't end there. They returned home changed, stepping into a country that barely resembled the one they'd left. As the 1920s roared into life, veterans tried to rejoin a world moving faster than ever before. Some blended in. Others struggled. A few stood out. And their second lives often left behind records that are waiting for you to discover... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wwi-veterans-after-the-war-1920s/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

For generations, families quietly wondered why a veteran ancestor drank too much, kept to themselves, startled at loud noises, or refused to talk about the war. Some were labeled “nervous,” “moody,” or “difficult.” Others disappeared from family life altogether — emotionally, or sometimes physically. But we now understand what they couldn't name: post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Though the term didn't exist until decades later, the effects were already showing. And for family historians, this hidden aftermath of war can explain behaviors, disappearances, and long-standing family rifts... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/ptsd-in-war-veterans-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the Second World War ended in 1945, it didn't just bring a global conflict to a close — it launched millions of lives into motion. Soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen, and civilians who had served in some capacity returned to a nation that was about to shift in almost every possible way. For many of our family members, the post-WWII years weren't about returning to normal — they were about starting something entirely new. They rewrote their lives from scratch. And the paper trail they left behind is worth following... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wwii-veterans-after-the-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When we think about Revolutionary War ancestors, we usually picture them in uniform—standing guard at a winter camp, marching along a dusty road, or writing letters home with inky quills and weary hands. We honor their service. We may even know where they fought and under which command. But what happened after they stacked their muskets and went home? That's a story worth telling. Because that's where the rest of their life began... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/life-after-the-revolutionary-war/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the Civil War ended in 1865, the United States was scarred but standing. The fields were silent, the guns were still, and the soldiers — Union and Confederate alike — began the long journey home. But what if “home” no longer existed? For thousands of veterans, returning wasn't an option. They had to start over somewhere else. Many of them packed up and headed west. That decision shaped the lives of entire generations. Why Go West? Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/civil-war-veterans-who-moved-west/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When the gunpowder settled and the flags were folded, Revolutionary War soldiers had to return to lives that often looked nothing like the ones they'd left behind. For many veterans, survival during the war had been only half the battle. The other half was trying to get what was promised to them once peace had been declared. That's where the pension system came in — slowly, imperfectly, and full of red tape. But for family historians like us, those old paper trails can be a gift. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/revolutionary-war-pension-records/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every family has secrets. But some secrets are darker than others—and some leave behind headlines, scars, and a trail of records in their wake. Murder cases, unsolved crimes, public hangings, or even whispered suspicions didn't just mark the individual involved. They reshaped entire branches of the family tree. If you've ever come across an ancestor who vanished, changed their name, or whose family stopped mentioning them entirely, there's a chance something more serious was involved. And even if the person wasn't guilty, their name may have been dragged into scandal or tragedy, leaving behind a legacy that was deliberately erased—or quietly hidden in the pages of forgotten records. This final installment in the series explores how to trace ancestors connected to serious crimes, what kinds of records exist, and how to approach these discoveries with care, curiosity, and truth. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/murder-infamy-family-history Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips  

Not every crime makes headlines. In fact, many of the offenses found in old court records are small—petty theft, vagrancy, disturbing the peace, trespassing, or breaking local ordinances. These weren't the stuff of true crime novels, but they still mattered. They could lead to fines, jail time, social ruin, or even exile from a town or community. And sometimes, these seemingly minor offenses had ripple effects that changed the course of a family's story. If your ancestor disappeared from records, left town abruptly, or was labeled a “black sheep,” there's a good chance a petty crime was involved. These aren't always easy to find, but when you do, they offer an intimate glimpse into the lives of ordinary people navigating real pressures, often under hard conditions. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/petty-crimes-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

In most family trees, the women are harder to trace. They often changed names, had fewer legal rights, and were less likely to appear in records that followed property or voting. But court records—especially when women found themselves in trouble—can be some of the most detailed and revealing documents we have. Whether they were plaintiffs or defendants, women in court often left behind rare windows into their daily lives, hardships, and resilience. Some were victims of false accusations. Others were bold rulebreakers. And a few were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. If your family history research hasn't included looking for women in legal records, it's time to change that. The stories found there are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes scandalous—but always human. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/women-trial-court-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

During the 1920s and early 1930s, a jug of illegal whiskey could change a family's fortune—or tear it apart. Whether your ancestors ran stills deep in the woods or simply served homemade brew at a quiet kitchen table, Prohibition touched nearly every community in America. The records left behind by this period—if you know where to look—reveal a time of defiance, desperation, and secret enterprise. And if you've got Southern, Appalachian, Midwestern, or even urban roots, there's a good chance someone in your family tree ran afoul of the law during this dry era. Let's take a closer look at the legacy of Prohibition, how moonshining worked, why so many people got involved, and how to uncover those stories in your own family history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/prohibition-moonshine-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

When most people think about court records in genealogy, they imagine criminal charges, jail time, or dramatic trials. But there's a quieter, more common type of legal record that can be just as revealing: civil cases. These aren't about crimes—they're about everyday disputes, debts, business problems, and personal grievances. And they can open a window into your ancestors' lives in a way no census or marriage certificate ever could. From unpaid bills to broken promises, civil cases leave behind a paper trail of who our ancestors trusted, owed, sued, or were sued by. If you've never explored civil court records in your research, you're missing out on one of the richest sources of human detail in family history... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/civil-court-records-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Not every ancestor was a pillar of virtue. Some were drunks, swindlers, thieves—or worse. You may have been told stories about them, or maybe you found hints in old letters or whispered rumors passed down through generations. But whether the stories were hushed or never told at all, the paper trail doesn't lie. Court records, prison files, and arrest logs are filled with stories—some tragic, some surprising, and some just plain strange. If you've never looked into the criminal side of your family history, you may be missing a whole dimension of your ancestors' lives. And in many cases, it's the most revealing side of all. Let's talk about how to find those records, how to make sense of them, and why they're worth exploring—even when the truth is uncomfortable... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/criminal-records-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

I remember watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on VHS with my parents when I was very young. That memory is still fresh. The soft hum of the tape rewinding, the old Disney clamshell case with the artwork, and the joy of seeing the dwarfs move across the screen—it all left a mark. This postcard brings that moment rushing back, showing one of the most cheerful and well-loved scenes in the movie: Snow White dancing while the dwarfs play music around her. Even today, it's easy to recognize the details. You can see the wooden cottage, the carved furniture, and the happy expressions on the characters. Dopey is front and center, his oversized sleeves dangling while he claps. Grumpy is off to the side, reluctant as always, but still involved. Each dwarf has their place, and you can almost hear the music just by looking at the image. That was the magic of the original movie—every scene was filled with color, personality, and life... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/snow-white-dance-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue The Forgotten Seconds series — exploring the lives of U.S. vice presidents who never became president — we arrive at a man whose political career spanned decades and whose life ended just as he reached one of the highest peaks of national office. Thomas Andrews Hendricks, vice president under Grover Cleveland, served only a few short months before his sudden death in 1885. Yet his legacy endures, especially in the state of Indiana, where he left a lasting mark on politics and public memory... Podcast Note: https://ancestralfindings.com/thomas-a-hendricks-vice-president Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our "The Forgotten Seconds" series, tracing the lives of vice presidents who never became president, few offer a more profound story of transformation than Henry Wilson. Born into poverty under a different name, Wilson rose from a boy bound out to farm labor to a man who held one of the highest offices in the land. Along the way, he became one of the most principled voices for abolition and civil rights in American history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/william-a-wheeler-vice-president Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our "The Forgotten Seconds" series, tracing the lives of vice presidents who never became president, few offer a more profound story of transformation than Henry Wilson. Born into poverty under a different name, Wilson rose from a boy bound out to farm labor to a man who held one of the highest offices in the land. Along the way, he became one of the most principled voices for abolition and civil rights in American history. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/henry-wilson-vice-president/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This postcard captures more than just a location. It holds a slice of New York City's vibrant nightlife in the early 1900s, frozen in time. Dozens of sharply dressed men and women fill every inch of the dining hall at Churchill's, a legendary supper club at the corner of Broadway and 49th Street. Their expressions vary—some smiling, some thoughtful, some lost in the moment. There's elegance, mystery, and a hum of excitement you can almost hear. When you look closely, you begin to wonder: Who were these people? What brought them there that night? Did any of them appear in your family tree? This is the kind of image that invites us not only to observe history, but to feel it—and maybe even find ourselves in it... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/churchills-restaurant-new-york-postcard/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Of all the jobs people avoided, feared, or whispered about, the gravedigger stood near the top of the list. Working in quiet corners of churchyards, behind iron fences, or in the shadows of city cemeteries, the gravedigger did work no one else wanted—making room for the dead and handling what came after. But for centuries, this job was a critical part of every community. It wasn't glamorous, and it certainly wasn't clean, but the people who did it kept burial grounds in order, protected public health, and honored the basic dignity of the dead. In this final part of our series on dirty jobs, we're going beneath the surface—literally—to explore the long, hard, and sometimes heartbreaking path of the gravedigger... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/gravedigger-burial-history-genealogy/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Long before cities had garbage trucks and recycling centers, there were the rag-and-bone collectors—wandering figures with pushcarts, sacks, and sharp eyes trained on the gutters and alleys of the industrial world. These scavengers were among the earliest forms of organized waste management, turning trash into treasure in a time when nearly everything had some kind of second life. Though rarely respected in their time, these individuals were vital to the ecosystem of 18th- and 19th-century cities. Their work supplied raw materials to soap makers, glue manufacturers, paper mills, and even farmers. They lived on the fringes of society, but their role supported entire industries. In many families, rag-picking or bone collecting wasn't just a temporary job—it was a generational trade... Podcast Notes:  https://ancestralfindings.com/rag-and-bone-collector-family-history/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Of all the historical occupations that could be found in a family tree, few were more pungent, more physically difficult, or more socially isolating than tanning. While farmers, blacksmiths, and even coal miners occupied central places in their communities, the tanner often worked on the outskirts—literally and figuratively. Tanning was essential to everyday life, producing the leather needed for clothing, shoes, belts, saddles, bookbinding, harnesses, and more. But because of how it was done—using rotting flesh, animal brains, and gallons of urine—it was also one of the filthiest and most unpleasant jobs in history. Yet, for centuries, it was vital. Leather was life: warm, durable, flexible, and necessary. And the people who made it weren't forgotten in the records, even if they were avoided in the streets. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/tanner-ancestor-family-history Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As the United States marks its 249th year of independence, it's a fitting time to pause and reflect—not just on fireworks and parades, but on the remarkable clarity of vision held by those who signed their names to the cause of liberty. These were men who risked everything—their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor—not for gain, but for the enduring hope of a free and virtuous republic. Their words, written in the heat of war and the uncertainty of revolution, are more than historical relics. They are guideposts. Warnings. Encouragements to stay the course. And when we take time to read them with fresh eyes, we realize how much they still matter... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/wisdom-of-the-founding-fathers/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that ran and every hearth that glowed, miners were working deep underground, chipping away at rock, swallowing dust, and risking their lives with every shift. Mining was one of the most dangerous and physically demanding jobs your ancestors could have held. For many, it wasn't just a job—it was the only option. In coal towns scattered across America and Europe, mining was a way of life. Children were born into it, men grew old doing it, and women ran households that depended on it... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/coal-miner-ancestor-family-tree/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with removing human waste from privy pits, outhouses, and cesspools—usually under cover of darkness when the smell might be slightly less offensive and when the public eye wouldn't witness the mess. The term "night soil" refers to human excrement that was collected before the days of flushing toilets. It piled up in backyard outhouses, chamber pots, and cesspools beneath tenement buildings and homes. Cities were packed with people, but sewage systems were almost nonexistent or in their earliest forms. This meant that a whole class of workers existed solely to shovel out and haul away human waste... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/night-soil-man-dirty-jobs/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds, we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican Party. He was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant, a former Speaker of the House, and one of the most prominent political figures of his time. But Colfax's career was later marred by scandal, and his name, once linked to presidential potential, was swept away in the tide of changing political winds. Let's step back into his world and uncover the story of the man who stood beside a general turned president and nearly charted a course for the White House himself... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/schuyler-colfax-speaker-scandal-and-the-shadow-of-what-might-have-been/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds, we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president themselves. Today's spotlight is on Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln's first vice president—a name that once carried national significance but has since faded from common memory. Hamlin's life tells the story of New England grit, political courage, and quiet conviction in a turbulent era... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hannibal-hamlin-vice-president/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There's a man standing with a bird—maybe a parrot—perched on his arm. A woman leans against the back bar. You can just make out a bartender. There's a large wooden chest in the corner, chains hanging from the wall, and rough-hewn beams that look like they've seen more than a century of stories. This isn't just a bar. It's something else. It feels like a set from a play, or maybe a place where the curtain never fully drops. That's when I knew—I was looking at a piece of history from New York's old Pirate's Den... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pirates-den-greenwich-village/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I've written about. It's not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it's people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They're dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins, feathers—ready to perform, or maybe just wrapping up another night's set. The caption at the bottom reads: The Ensemble of “The Famous Hollywood Cabaret” Restaurant, Broadway at 48th St., New York City. It says a lot in just a few words. This wasn't just a restaurant—it was a place where dinner came with a full night of entertainment. And this postcard doesn't just show a building or a business—it captures a whole slice of nightlife in one of New York's most legendary neighborhoods. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hollywood-cabaret-new-york/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It's not flashy—there's no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you want to find out more. It sounds like something you'd say if you were giving directions in a familiar neighborhood—only this neighborhood happens to be in the middle of New York City... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/little-church-around-the-corner-nyc/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father's Day came to be. The holiday didn't spring up as easily as Mother's Day, nor was it without its share of controversy, setbacks, and surprising twists. The roots of Father's Day reach deep into early 20th-century America—and they begin not with a celebration, but with a tragedy... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-real-history-of-fathers-day-from-1910-to-today/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips